Thomas Cook
31st October 2005, 05:36 PM (17:36)
HAlloween,per se ,has never been a big deal to me.(except my greedy CHildhood years growing up in Rossville georgia).
There is one memory though that does stand out.Our Single Adult Class of the Overland Park Antioch Nazarene Church somehow had obtained permission to take a group of needy kids "trick or treating".
It was a really cold day and When we arrived I was,frankly dreading the prospect of walking door to door in the freezing cold weather to extort candy from the neighborhood around the CHurch.
I discovered that I was in Charge of Butch.His first words were"keep your---- hans off me!"I went deeper into depression but couldn't see a way out this late in the evening.
We started out and Butch would only stick out his bag and then take off for the next house.About half way down the street he started talking.Seems he had a rough life for his 7 years.Beaten,abandoned,in and out of Foster homes etc,
At the end of the street I picked him up and carried him to the other side.He then reached up and held my hand and actually began to laugh.He told me that one parent was white and the other was black and no race,he said,really accepted him.I told him that I did and the Church would and most of all God always would.
We ended up at the Church where the girls had prepared snacks,Hot Cider and a gift for each child.Butch sat right by my side and I noticed a light in what had been pretty sad eyes.
When we took the kids back to the Home i walked Butch to the Door and pulled him aside.Here's my number Butch,call me anytime.He asked if I would come again and I said you bet!As I stepped off the porch he yelled out "This is the bestest day of my life"
I did see Butch a few more times and we became friends.I always prayed with him before I left.The last memory I have of him was as he walked out with what seemed like a really great family.There were tears in his eyes as he waved by and I confess there was someting in mine as well.
I never saw Butch after that but most every Halloween I think of him......I will never forget him.....
Tom
There is one memory though that does stand out.Our Single Adult Class of the Overland Park Antioch Nazarene Church somehow had obtained permission to take a group of needy kids "trick or treating".
It was a really cold day and When we arrived I was,frankly dreading the prospect of walking door to door in the freezing cold weather to extort candy from the neighborhood around the CHurch.
I discovered that I was in Charge of Butch.His first words were"keep your---- hans off me!"I went deeper into depression but couldn't see a way out this late in the evening.
We started out and Butch would only stick out his bag and then take off for the next house.About half way down the street he started talking.Seems he had a rough life for his 7 years.Beaten,abandoned,in and out of Foster homes etc,
At the end of the street I picked him up and carried him to the other side.He then reached up and held my hand and actually began to laugh.He told me that one parent was white and the other was black and no race,he said,really accepted him.I told him that I did and the Church would and most of all God always would.
We ended up at the Church where the girls had prepared snacks,Hot Cider and a gift for each child.Butch sat right by my side and I noticed a light in what had been pretty sad eyes.
When we took the kids back to the Home i walked Butch to the Door and pulled him aside.Here's my number Butch,call me anytime.He asked if I would come again and I said you bet!As I stepped off the porch he yelled out "This is the bestest day of my life"
I did see Butch a few more times and we became friends.I always prayed with him before I left.The last memory I have of him was as he walked out with what seemed like a really great family.There were tears in his eyes as he waved by and I confess there was someting in mine as well.
I never saw Butch after that but most every Halloween I think of him......I will never forget him.....
Tom